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Spending time outside can be both enjoyable and beneficial, and now that the weather’s absolutely beautiful here in Nashville, I’ve been asking more of my clients “Would you like to meet outside today?”

By the end of this article, I hope you’ll have a sense of what an outdoor therapy session can look like, how outdoor therapy might help you, and whether outdoor therapy is something you’d like to try out.

What does an outdoor therapy session look like?

In some ways, outdoor sessions are the same as indoor sessions, except outside. We’ll still talk about and work on your therapy goals, using the talking and body-based practices we’d use inside (like parts work, brainspotting, tapping, problem-solving, etc.) We’ll just also invite nature to be our co-therapist!

I may invite you to be curious about your surroundings and senses, in ways that usually don’t happen indoors:

• feel the gentle breeze

• hear the chorus of birdsong

• listen to the rustle of leaves overhead and the crunch of leaves underfoot

• smell the honeysuckle blossoms, fresh-cut grass, and earth

• notice the sensations in your body as you move

Logistically, we’ll usually start at the office in Berry Hill and walk 1-2 minutes to the nearby Iris Park or Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery for seated nature therapy or walk and talk therapy .

Walk and Talk Therapy

Just like the name implies, in walk and talk therapy we go for a walk while talking about whatever it is you’re working on in therapy.

I’ll let you choose whether you’d like to walk in the neighborhood or in the cemetery adjacent to Berry Hill (a 1-2 minute walk from the office).

You get to set the pace, and we can always pause, rest, or return to the office.

Note: while you may get a physical benefit from walking, walk and talk therapy is not intended as “exercise”, and there is no weight-loss or body-shape-changing intent.

Seated Nature Therapy

For seated nature therapy, we’ll find a spot to sit outside and do therapy. There are many sunny and shaded spots nearby, both in the cemetery (creepy for some people, grounding for other, neutral for others still) and in the neighborhood park. Seating options include benches, a picnic table, picnic blanket, and even swings!

Both the park and the cemetery have closer parking if you would like a shorter walk.

Note: these options can be mixed and matched, and just because you start with one or the other doesn’t mean you have to stay with it the whole session. You are free to adjust at any time.

Potential Benefits of Outdoor Therapy

• Helps you feel grounded and connected to something greater than yourself (the natural world)

• Engages your senses in the present moment

• Lowers stress

• Natural bilateral stimulation (rhythmic left-right stimulation) via walking

• Sunshine and vitamin D boost

• Better suited for bringing your dog along (park/neighborhood only; not cemetery; please talk with me before you bring your dog)

• Connect to your inner child who loved playing outside

Potential Risks of Outdoor Therapy

• There’s the chance you’ll be overheard or seen by someone else, possibly someone you know.

• Injuries, like sprained ankles, accidents, or exacerbating pre-existing conditions

• Allergens like pollen, bees, etc

• Sunburns

• Physical discomfort

Preparing for Outdoor Therapy

In addition to your usual therapy prep, you might also consider wearing or bringing:

• Comfortable walking shoes that are ok for walking on grass. (Heels typically aren’t the best for this.)

• Temperature-appropriate clothing. The temperature outside may be colder or warmer than inside, so keep that in mind while getting dressed. Layers can be really helpful in case you warm up or cool down as we’re outside. (And we can always switch to inside if you become uncomfortable.)

• Sun-protection and bug-protection, as needed.

• A water bottle. (You can also bring tea or water from the office, but you might appreciate having your own water bottle.)

Is Outdoor Therapy Right for You?

What’s coming up in your body as you think about doing therapy outside? You might feel tingling, tightness, openness, excitement, anxiety, etc. Maybe let yourself be curious about these messages from your body.

Some additional questions to consider include:

• Do you like being outside? Do you want to be outside more?

• Do you struggle to stay present and be in the moment?

• Do you have allergies or physical considerations that would make outdoor therapy difficult, unpleasant or dangerous?

• Do you feel very self-conscious if others might see you, and do you want to make sure you have total privacy while doing therapy?

Outdoor therapy can be a wonderful way to deepen your healing, and (big AND) it’s not the only way. Listen to your inner knowing, and if that voice inside of you is saying “absolutely not” or “not right now”, honor that voice with curiosity and compassion.

And if your inner voice is saying “hell yes!” or “that sounds nice”, honor that voice, too.

Next Steps

If you’re a current client or are interested in doing outdoor therapy with me, feel free to reach out or schedule an outdoor session.

If you’re a fellow therapist interested in doing outdoor therapy in your practice, I’d love to talk with you and am happy to share my outdoor consent form.

And for everyone, I invite you to explore how you might add a little more time in nature into your week - even if just a minute or two.